[Jason Dunn]

In my workspace area, I have several computers and monitors. PVR duties are being handled by a Shuttle ST62K with a Hauppauge TV tuner and Snapstream Beyond TV3. That computer is connected to a two-year old Samsung 17" LCD. I also have a small 14" Toshiba TV set hooked up to a DVD/VCR combo. Because Beyond TV makes recording TV so easy, I've been watching a lot more lately (that's not really a good thing mind you). The problem is the Samsung LCD - the pixel response rate is brutally high, meaning that any TV show with even slight action makes for a blurry mess. So I'm looking to replace it with something more apt for real TV watching, but still capable of being a decent monitor for computer work. This will also allow me to get rid of the 14" TV set.

A few years ago companies such as Viewsonic has CRT-based TV set/monitors on the market, but they seem to have been eclipsed by LCD-based units. I don't want to dump a lot of cash on this solution, so the $2000 30" wide screen-type solutions are out of the question. One solution I'm considering is buying another Dell 2001FP, since it has an assortment of video inputs and would of course make a nice monitor. Dell also has a few LCD TV's that look interesting, especially the new 26" version. In fact, the more I look around at options, the Dell W2600 looks quite impressive!

[Jason Dunn]

In my workspace area, I have several computers and monitors. PVR duties are being handled by a Shuttle ST62K with a Hauppauge TV tuner and Snapstream Beyond TV3. That computer is connected to a two-year old Samsung 17" LCD. I also have a small 14" Toshiba TV set hooked up to a DVD/VCR combo. Because Beyond TV makes recording TV so easy, I've been watching a lot more lately (that's not really a good thing mind you). The problem is the Samsung LCD - the pixel response rate is brutally high, meaning that any TV show with even slight action makes for a blurry mess. So I'm looking to replace it with something more apt for real TV watching, but still capable of being a decent monitor for computer work. This will also allow me to get rid of the 14" TV set.

A few years ago companies such as Viewsonic has CRT-based TV set/monitors on the market, but they seem to have been eclipsed by LCD-based units. I don't want to dump a lot of cash on this solution, so the $2000 30" wide screen-type solutions are out of the question. One solution I'm considering is buying another Dell 2001FP, since it has an assortment of video inputs and would of course make a nice monitor. Dell also has a few LCD TV's that look interesting, especially the new 26" version. In fact, the more I look around at options, the Dell W2600 looks quite impressive!

[Doug Johnson]

Have you thought about something like this... ?

http://www.viewsonic.com/products/tv.../nextvisionn4/

http://www.viewsonic.com/products/tv.../nextvisionn5/

http://www.viewsonic.com/products/tv.../nextvisionn6/

I have an N4 and an N6 and they both work great.

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by djdj

Have you thought about something like this... ?

But that wouldn't solve the problem of the LCD screen, which is slow pixel refresh time, right? That would just allow me to use a monitor and get a TV signal on it...which I can already do via SnapStream. Or am I missing something? (could be) ;-)

[Felix Torres]

Last week's post offers an alternative if you don't need DVI input:

http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/...?topic_id=6515

Otherwise the DELL looks pretty good.

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by Felix Torres

Last week's post offers an alternative if you don't need DVI input...

Yeah, Walmart Canada doesn't carry them. But for only $600 more I could get 3" bigger AND a name brand I trust...so the Dell is looking better all the time.

[Kursplat]

How about a Viewsonic? Check out this discussion. I saw this monitor at Costco and have been considering it. 16ms 20" LCD for $799US. I would not factor in the rebate they discuss.

Of course, it sounds like you might have the "Canada thing" going against you.